Nosco Plastics

Nosco Plastics, Inc. (commonly called NOSCO, the mark used on its molded products) was the plastics molding division of National Organ Supply Company created in 1934 to make plastic parts for electric organs and was located at 1701 Gaskell Avenue, Erie, Pennsylvania, 16503. Beginning in 1948 with the implementation of the newly developed screw injection molding process, NOSCO quickly became a major early producer of tiny plastic toys called "slum" (very cheap prizes that are bought in bulk, sometimes for as little as $1 a gross or less) sold to wholesalers as carnival merchandise, used by the millions as prizes in packages of Cracker Jack popcorn confection, and mail-order flats that were heavily advertised in American comic books as "100 Toy Soldiers for $1" by E. Joseph Cossman & Company. NOSCO also held a number of patents on plastic molded products including mechanical toys, storage containers, pallets, and medical syringes.

Harry Auch and John Hallas, of the Haskell Company, went to Erie, Pennsylvania in 1920 to join Anton Gottfried, Henry Kugel, and Kugel's son Harry Kugel in the formation of a metal organ pipe manufacturer called National Organ Supply. The NOSCO Division was created to manufacture injection molded plastic parts for electric organs in 1934. But NOSCO would become a major player as a manufacturer of tiny plastic toys used as prizes, mail-order merchandise, and carnival "hooch" with the invention of the screw injection method of molding plastics implemented in 1948.

In the 1940s, NOSCO produced some of its first non-organ items in the molded plastic figures by New York designer Don Manning. They were stylistic pre-war art deco versions of animals such as camels, deer, does, dogs, elephants, giraffes, horses, storks, and unicorns. Many are marked "USA" and some are marked "Don Manning". Some larger ones are marked "Design by Don Manning". The larger molds were eventually sold to Breyer and were re-issued as the "Modernistic Buck" and the "Modernistic Doe". Small, about 1-1/2" versions of these same designs were used as bar drink markers—including an antelope, camel, deer, dog, elephant, heron (bird), horse, monkey, squirrel, and swan.

The first set of 12 screw injection molded NOSCO toys was advertised for sale as carnival merchandise in Cincinnati newspaper "The Billboard". A 1/6th page advertisement in the February 7, 1948 issue with the title "Brand New, Low Cost Plastic Slum (Give-aways)" that shows "Lifelike animals that appeal to young and old alike. Stand 2" high on a flat, firm base. Molded in five bright, eye-catching colors. Never before has quality slum been priced so low." The ad only says to write for jobbers who sell these items. NOSCO did not sell its products to the general public. One of the major wholesalers for NOSCO slum was Terre Haut, Indiana based Levin Brothers with ads in "The Billboard" beginning in the February 21, 1948 issue. One Levin Brothers listing beginning May 29, 1948 stated "Nosco Plastic Animal Standups" were being offered for $0.95 a gross.

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